Geshe Wangyal: The Blessing of the Three Jewels is a dramatic story of the remarkable earthly and spiritual journey of a Russian-born monk who became one of the first preachers of Tibetan Buddhism in the United States. (Photo provided by BAFF)
It’s no secret that the good people of Boulder love a quality film festival.
From the prolific Sans Souci Dance Cinema Festival to the award-winning Boulder International Film Festival to the more niche Chautauqua silent film series, there’s always something for movie fans to get excited about when visiting this city.
It is also undeniable that Boulderite loves Buddha. Boulder is home to Naropa, one of the few Buddhist-affiliated universities in the United States, has hosted the 14th Dalai Lama multiple times, and even has its own Buddhist publishing house.
Next weekend, one film festival will host the third annual Buddhist Arts Film Festival, which combines film and spirituality and opens May 24 at the Daly Arts Center. Whether you’re a movie buff, a believer in the Four Noble Truths, both, or neither, this three-day event ranges from documentary screenings to poetry work. Everything from shops to discussions about mortality will be held, offering a little something for everyone.
The Buddhist Arts Film Festival was founded by Laura Weiss, a filmmaker, activist, and Buddhist. She spent several years as a psychiatric nurse before starting the festival, after which she transitioned into hospice nursing. Weiss said her medical career sparked her curiosity and interest in Buddhism.
“While working as a nurse, I became interested in the mind, relationships, behavior, and outcomes. My entire nursing career revolved around this sense of working with my thoughts. That led me to Buddhism,” Weiss said.
Weiss said losing her mother to Alzheimer’s disease inspired her to start the Buddhist art and film festival.
“The morning after she passed away, I felt the love, the sadness, the loss, the confusion, and the clarity, all of which comes with losing a mother. I thought about how I could honor her and dedicate something to her. I had a background in film, and I had a background in Buddhism, so I thought Boulder had an opportunity to create something like this. Because there are a lot of people who are interested in it.”
After a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the festival returned in 2022. And after another short hiatus in 2023, the festival returns this year stronger than ever. In addition to seven films, two workshops, and live music performances, he will feature four post-film discussions with leaders in Buddhist thought, Eastern music theory, and spiritual enlightenment. .
The post-screening talkback will be moderated by Dan Hirshberg of the University of Colorado, a lecturer at the Center for Asian Studies and the Tibet-Himalayan Initiative. Hirshberg will help facilitate the conversation that follows the film “Tukdom: Between Worlds.” The film is a groundbreaking documentary that explores the Tibetan Buddhist practice of tukdam, in which advanced meditators consciously control the process of their own death. Even after being declared clinically dead by American scientific standards, the bodies of these meditators remain vibrant and, uh, “fresh.” It’s a little creepy on the one hand, but totally cool on the other.
“This film in particular raises many questions about the intersection of traditional meditation practices, their purpose and potential goals, and the ways in which we as humans experience and understand them in a modern context. “Scientific research and research is mainstream today,” Hirshberg said.
Hirshberg will interview Andrew Holecek, a leading Buddhist meditation expert who specializes in lucid dreaming and thanatology (the study of death). Hirschberg’s academic background and Holeczek’s knowledge of Eastern meditation practices give viewers a unique opportunity to discuss something that is not always talked about in modern society.
“Whether you practice Buddhism or not, Tukdam: Between Worlds is an objectively fascinating story. Andrew, in particular, has written extensively about this kind of practice as a methodology. “So I think it’s going to be interesting to hear what he has to say about death and dying,” he said.
He continued, “This is a good way to create a dialogue about how we view death. However, the focus is on staying alive for as long as possible and at all costs, no matter how you end up, but this movie offers us a different perspective and a different approach. , about how to transition as gracefully as possible.”
The festival will kick off on Friday with a performance by special guest Venerable Panavati Bhikuni. He is a former Baptist pastor who became a monk and now runs a hermitage in North Carolina that houses more than 70 homeless youth. Her performance, in which she performed with the Dharma Voci Choir, leads the audience through a program of uplifting songs inspired by pop and gospel. Her performance will be followed by the documentary Dark Red Forest, which details the annual pilgrimage of thousands of Tibetan nuns who travel to stay in wooden houses on the Tibetan Plateau during the coldest months of the year. will be shown.
Other films to be screened at the festival include Buster Williams: Bass to Infinity, a documentary about legendary jazz bassist Buster Williams, and The Dog, a Buddhist noir about the story of Buster Williams. ‘The Honey Giver in the World’. An undercover investigator searching for a missing nun.
Watching the film is great fun, but for those who would like to take part in a more hands-on approach, two workshops held over the weekend will help immerse participants in Eastern culture and movement. This includes workshops led by dancer Santi, giving participants the opportunity to explore freedom in improvisation-based movement practices. It will also include a writing workshop led by poet Brooke McNamara.
McNamara, a teacher and Zen monk, will host a workshop on Sunday called “Awakening to Poetry: Meditation and Poetry for Living,” offering a fun way for guests to tap into their creative side while exploring mindfulness. do.
According to McNamara, the workshop provides a relaxing and supportive space for participants, whether they are new to poetry, meditation, or both, or experienced writers looking for ways to deepen their practice.
“My greatest goal and my greatest joy in life from my teaching is to help people uncover their own truths. I believe.”
The workshop begins with a 20-minute meditation to help the group root, followed by McNamara sharing a piece of poetry and offering writing tips to participants. After a certain amount of writing time, groups are invited to share and discuss their work and practices. Even though she has a degree in poetry, her approach to workshops is non-academic. Rather, she speaks to the group from her heart and encourages others to be open as well.
“I 150% believe that the practice of Zen, liberation, and wisdom is for everyone. So is poetry, creativity, and writing. We are born with the seeds of awakening, whether we realize it or not, given that we are inherently creative beings and exist in time. , I’m always being creative. My core values are teaching within these identities to people who are Buddhist and non-Buddhist,” McNamara said.
Weiss echoed McNamara’s sentiments, explaining that while Buddhist art and film festivals are rooted in spiritual teachings, the festival is for anyone who wants to expand their worldview. did.
“Our lives are shaped by our minds, and I feel that the more we can pay attention to that and be aware of it, the less conflict we will have.” The principles of compassion, patience, and generosity are open to everyone, whether they practice it or not. Everyone can benefit from these things, and knowing your own heart is. It’s not necessarily a religious thing, it’s a way of life. It’s good for everyone to be interested in how to live their lives more consciously. I hope I can introduce or remind people how to approach their thoughts, feelings, and thoughts.”
if you go
what: Buddhist art and film festival
when: May 24-26, 2024
where: Daley Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder.
Fee: All-access pass is $65
More information: buff film
